Needle with openable eye



Dec. 2, 1952 L. GRAHAM 2,620,104

NEEDLE WITH OPENABLE EYE Filed Feb. 1, 1952 INVENTOR. l 4 77725.44, Gen/MM Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES ?ir-t'i NT 2,620,104

NEEDLE WITH OPENABLE EYE Lattrell-Graham, Amarillo, Tex.

APPlicationFebruary 1, 1952, Serial No. 269,497

3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to thread needles and more particularly to a needle having an eye which can be opened for the insertionof a thread therein and closed to retain the thread in the eye, the needle :being especially adapted for use with yarn-s of large size such .as are used in makingrugs.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved needle which is particularly arranged for easy threading and especially adapted for use with large size yarns; vhich as an eye structure one side of which can be opened to permit insertion .of a thread or yarn directly into the eye and recl osed to retain the thread or yarn therein; which has aneye formation providedlin two parts, one of which is pivotally connected to the needle and which snap together in eye closing relationship and are easy to manually separate when desired; which has a portion of maximum diameter intermediate its length to provide enlarged holes in fabric for the passage of thread or yarn therethrough; which is entirely smooth and has no projections to catch in fabric through which the needle is :passed; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical ,to manufacture, easy to use, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advanta es will become aparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims -in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a needle illustrative of the invention with the eye of the needle shown in closed condition;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 but with the eye of the needle shown in open condition; and

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the needle when rotated approximately 90 from the posi tion illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

With continued reference to the drawing, the needle comprises an elongated body It formed of suitable material, such as steel, having intermediate its length a portion II of maximum diameter disposed somewhat nearer one end of the body than the other. The body tapers to a point I2 at its end furthest from the portion I! of maximum diameter and has an eye formation, generally indicated at I3, at the side of the portion II remote from the point I2.

The eye formation I3 comprises a flattened leg I4 which extends from the body substantially at the portion II of maximum diameter along and substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the body, this leg being spaced to 2 one side of the longitudinal center line. The leg [4 is integral with the remainder of the body I0 and has its outer surface flush with the corresponding surface of the body, the leg being formed by cutting away one side of the body from the portion I I to the nearest end of the body and the inner surface of the leg is substantially flat while the outer surface is transversely convex. At its distal end the leg I4 is provided with a projection 15 which extends substantially perpendicularly from the distal end of the leg I4 across the longitudinal center line of the body andis longitudinally curvedso that it has a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface facing the portion of the body I ll at the proximal end of the leg M.

The eye alsoineludes a second leg it of substantially the same size and shape as the leg I4 and pivotally connected at one end to the body II) at the body portion II of maximum diameter. The leg [-6 is flattened, having a substantially flat inner surface facing the leg l4 and a transversely convex outer surface and is provided at its free or distal end with aprojection ll which extends perpendicularly from the distal end of the leg I 6 toward the leg I l and is longitudinally curved so that its outer surface is somewhat convex and its inner surface somewhat concave.

The body It is provided in the portion II thereof with a recess I3 which opens to the side of the body diametrically opposite t e proximal end of the leg I l and the leg .16 is provided on its end pivotally connected to the body 'II) with a tongue I9 of partly cylindrical shape having a width substantially equal to the Width of the recess I8 and provided with a transversely extending aperture. 'The body It is provided with apertures at the -re spectiv e ly Opposite sides of the recess I8 which register with the aperture in the tongue l9 and a pivot pin 20 extends through the registering apertures in the body I0 and the tongue l9 and pivotally connects the leg I6 to the body. The pivotal connection between the leg IG and the body It) is such that the leg l6 can swing away from the leg I4 a predetermined amount only, a maximum angle of approximately between the legs I4 and [6 having been found to provide entirely satisfactory results in use.

When the leg I6 is swung toward the leg I4 to close the eye formation I3 of the needle the extension I? on the distal end of the leg I6 constitutes a cap which snaps over the convex outer surface of the extension I5 on the distal end of the leg I3 so that the two legs are snapped together and resiliently held. in eye closing relationship in which they are spaced apart and substantially parallel, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 1. The leg it can be swung away from the leg [4 to open the eye by grasping the body ID in the fingers and applying finger pressure to the projection or cap I! in the proper direction.

The eye formation [3 of the needle is easy to open and close and the needle has been found to have particular utility in the manufacturing of certain types of rugs wherein it is necessary to unthread and thread the needle at frequent intervals to work yarns of different colors through the fabric backing to provide desired patterns in the pile of the rug.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A needle comprising an elongated body of circular cross sectional shape tapered from a location intermediate its length to both its ends, said body being tapered to a. point at one end and having at its other end an eye formation including a flattened first leg extending along and spaced to one side of the longitudinal center line of said body and provided at its distal end with a projection extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom through the longitudinal center line of said body, and a flattened second leg pivotally connected at one end to said body at a location substantially diametrically opposite the proximal end of said first leg and having on its other end a projection extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom toward said first leg and underlying the projection on said first leg to releasably hold said legs in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other with the eye of the needle therebetween when said eye formation is closed, said second leg being swingable away from said first leg to open said eye formation for the passage of a thread into said eye between the distal ends of said legs and swingable toward said first leg to close said eye at the distal ends of said legs.

2. A needle comprising an elongated body of circular cross sectional shape tapered from a location intermediate its length to both its ends, said body being tapered to a point at one end and having at its other end an eye formation including a flattened first leg extending along and spaced to one side of the longitudinal center 6 line of said body and provided at its distal end with a projection extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom through the longitudinal center line of said body, and a flattened second leg pivotally connected at one end to said body at a location substantially diametrically opposite the proximal end of said first leg and having on its other end a projection extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom toward said first leg and underlying the projection on said first leg to releasably hold said legs in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other when said eye formation is closed, said second leg being swingable away from said first leg to open said eye formation to receive a thread, and the projections on said legs being longitudinally curved so that one extension has a concave inner surface receiving a convex outer surface of the complementary extension to releasably snap the two legs together in eye closing relationship.

3. A needle comprising an elongated body of circular cross sectional shape tapered from a location intermediate its length to both its ends, said body being tapered to a point at one end and having at its other end an eye formation including a flattened first leg extending along and spaced to one side of the longitudinal center line of said body and provided at its distal end with a projection extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom through the longitudinal center line of said body, and a flattened second leg pivotally connected at one end to said body at a location substantially diametrically opposite the proximal end of said first leg and having on its other end a projection extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom toward said first leg and underlying the projection on said first leg to releasably hold said legs in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other when said eye formation is closed, said second leg being swingable away from said first leg to open said eye formation to receive a thread, said body having a recess therein at the location of maximum diameter opening through the side thereof diametrically opposite the proximal end of said first leg and said second leg having a tongue of partly cylindrical shape received in the recess in said body, said tongue and said body being provided with registering recesses, and a pivot pin extending through said registering recesses pivotally connecting said second leg at said one end thereof to said body.

LATTRELL GRAHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,801,691 Ripper Apr. 21, 1931 2,120,030 Little June 7, 1938 

